The nationalist voice - Ronnie McColl, council leader

Published 6 Jul 2010 10:00

SNP support staff and communities

At last week's council meeting, the SNP administration moved a motion to take part in a local and national campaign against the cuts in public services.

We also backed the unions in their request for further discussion on how we manage the changes to the way we deliver services to you.

A combination of SNP and Independent councillors won the vote.

Sadly, Labour and Scottish Socialist councillors voted against the motion, showing just how far out of touch they are with the vast majority of staff and residents of this area.

MP's silence speaks volumes

At the same meeting, the council unanimously agreed to pressurise the new Con-Dem Government over their treatment of people being denied access to the Independent Living Fund, which is an essential lifeline for vulnerable people wishing to have as full and active a life as possible.

The council charged me with the responsibility of engaging in a cross party campaign to challenge the new Government.

Changes to the eligibility criteria, not only disadvantage 21 people who have applied and been denied access to this fund, but also many more people who currently receive fund are now worried about what the Government will do next.

The SNP Scottish Government is backing our actions, but unfortunately, our new MP Gemma Doyle is silent on the issue.

I would ask Gemma to put narrow party politics aside and engage with me on this issue.

Gemma, your constituents deserve your support.

Housing regeneration

A lot of misinformation has been released lately about the SNP's stock transfer policy.

I want to make it clear that tenants will decide in local ballots if they wish to transfer or not.

If they vote yes, they will also have been given the opportunity to choose who their new landlord will be.

This whole strategy is about giving tenants the power to decide their own destiny.

But let us be clear. If we want to see our communities being regenerated as Renton and Haldane have been, then the vehicle for doing this is stock transfer.

Given the financial climate, it is essential that we bring new money into the regeneration of our area and that we are able to write off the historic housing debt.

This cannot be done if the council does not try to work with communities to achieve a better future.

Waste management

I am happy to see that the residents of Dumbarton and the Vale of Leven are embracing the new arrangements for waste collection and recycling.

It is a fact that if we do not increase our recycling, we could be fined up to £1m per year.

As with any new system, there have been a number of teething problems.

But I am pleased to see that council staff have reacted quickly to sort out any problems.

The more we recycle, the better it is, not only for the environment, but also the public purse.

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This article appeared in Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter 06 Jul 10

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